Agricultural Chamber without Mavrović, Grivičić Possible President

The president of the Croatian Peasant Union, Željko Mavrović, the president of the Dairy Farmers Association of Slavonia and Baranja, Ivica Miketek, and the company Kutjevo are just some of the notable names that were not elected as members of the Assembly of the Agricultural Chamber.

On the other hand, it is interesting that Mavrović’s predecessor, Darko Grivičić, was elected to the Assembly and is even a possible candidate for president of the Agricultural Chamber. Namely, in the elections conducted, which were presented today at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development, approximately 37 thousand ballots were sent to the Election Commission from November 2 to 27. From the electoral group of family farms (OPG), 35,769 ballots were received (of which 4.4 percent were invalid), and from the electoral group ‘others’ (cooperatives, companies, crafts…) 1,231 ballots (of which three percent were invalid). They elected 119 members of the Assembly from 216 candidates with valid nominations (a total of 331 candidates), of which 89 were elected from OPGs (75 percent), and 30 from the ‘others’ quota (25 percent).

Today, the results were published on the website of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development. As stated by State Secretary Josip Kraljičković, candidates will be able to submit objections until tomorrow (Tuesday) at 12 o’clock. – After that, if there are no objections, Minister Petar Čobanković will convene the first meeting of the Agricultural Chamber Assembly within 30 days. However, if there are objections, the meeting will be convened no later than the beginning of next year – said Kraljičković. Although he did not accuse anyone by name, one of the biggest troublemakers and leaders of this summer’s tractor protests, milk producer Ivica Miketek indirectly blamed the Ministry of Agriculture for his failure, given that it organized the elections.

– I will not complain because it makes no sense. These elections are a complete setup. It turned out well for farmers, but poorly for milk producers. However, the Association of Milk Producers of Slavonia and Baranja will soon go public with its position; I assure you this will not end like this. We will raise people again – said Miketek. Enver Moralić, the owner of Kutjevo, stated that he will definitely appeal the election results, although he could not comment on them as he had not yet seen them. – Otherwise, the Agricultural Chamber is a stillborn entity because I see no purpose in its formation. There will be 200 to 300 officials ’employed’ there, and that will be it – Moralić said for Lider.

Former president of the Croatian Peasant Union, Darko Grivičić, returned to the life of Croatian agriculture with these elections. He stated for Lider that he expected to be elected to the Assembly. – Many have talked to me about taking over the position of president of the Agricultural Chamber. I have ambitions in that direction, but let’s wait for the first Assembly meeting and see what will happen – said Grivičić. As for Željko Mavrović, Grivičić believes that his involvement in the wheat procurement, when he defended the positions of the Ministry of Agriculture, cost him the election. – Mavrović got a bit ahead of himself. Unfortunately, he came to that very thankless position without knowing the mentality of our people. I fear that has cost him – concluded Grivičić. Although we tried to get a statement from the current president of the Croatian Peasant Union, Željko Mavrović, we have not yet succeeded in contacting him. (Edis Felić)